Pokémon GO Festival of Lights Returns to India with Exclusive Pikachu

Scopely, the interactive entertainment company overseeing the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon GO, has announced the return of its Festival of Lights event, exclusively for Trainers in India. The event is scheduled to run from Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time. This iteration will feature the reappearance of Pikachu adorned in traditional Indian attire: a saree and a kurta.

Pokémon GO: Event Details and In-Game Features

The Festival of Lights event integrates cultural elements into the game, highlighting traditional Indian garments for the iconic Pokémon. Trainers will have opportunities to encounter these special Pikachu variants in raids, with potential chances to find their Shiny versions or those featuring a Special Background. For further event information, players can refer to the [official Pokémon GO website](https://pokemongolive.com/).

The event will also introduce “Sparkle O’Clock,” during which specific Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild for five minutes at 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7:30 PM local time each day. Featured Pokémon during these designated periods include Charmander, Chinchou, Mareep, Camerupt, Litwick, Lampent, Morelull, Tadbulb, alongside the festive Pikachu variants.

Additionally, Lure Modules activated during the event will attract a higher frequency of event-themed Pokémon, similar to those featured in Sparkle O’Clock, offering Trainers increased encounter rates.

Research, Challenges, and Bonuses

The Festival of Lights will incorporate several in-game activities designed to reward player engagement. Branched Timed Research will become available starting Sunday, November 1, local time. Completion of this research will yield XP, Stardust, stickers featuring the festive Pikachu, and an encounter with either Pikachu wearing a saree or a kurta, potentially with a Special Background. Event-themed Collection Challenges will also be present, providing XP and Stardust upon completion.

Event bonuses include Lure Modules lasting three times their standard duration, and Trainers will receive stickers depicting the festive Pikachu when spinning PokéStops. Some event-themed Pokémon will also exhibit a glow effect within the game environment.

Content Creator Collaboration

For this year’s Festival of Lights, Pokémon GO has partnered with Indian content creator Ashish Chanchlani. The collaboration involves a promotional video celebrating the event, which features Chanchlani highlighting the festive Pikachu characters. This initiative represents a localized marketing effort by Scopely aimed at the Indian market, a common strategy observed across various mobile gaming platforms for industry developments (https://technosports.co.in/) and region-specific content.